Bulletin of Insectology 63 (1): 99-114, 2010 ISSN 1721-8861 Hoverflies in the “Guido Grandi Collection” of DiSTA, University of Bologna Daniele SOMMAGGIO Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agroambientali - Entomologia, Università di Bologna, Italy Abstract The Syrphidae in the “Guido Grandi Collection” - held in DiSTA, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna – are revised. 3439 specimens and 243 species are present in the collection, which includes an interesting donation made by the Italian ento- mologist Mario Bezzi. Merodon unicolor Strobl is recorded for the first time in Italy and other interesting or rare species are dis- cussed. Several records in the collection improved our knowledge of the fauna of Eastern Po Valley and Emilia Romagna Apen- nines. The Syrphid fauna of these two areas is revised and a detailed regional list provided. Knowledge of the Po Valley fauna seems to be fairly complete and well described, thanks to a strong research effort in the last few years. On the other hand, knowl- edge of the syrphid fauna from the Northern Apennines appears to be incomplete, and hence we need to extend monitoring and recording there. Despite this the present lists seem to be sufficiently detailed to be used for practical purposes, including detailed application of the expertise system Syrph the Net in the Emilia Romagna region. Key words: Diptera Syrphidae, Po Valley, Northern Apennines, Guido Grandi Collection. Introduction fauna and also gave important information about the en- vironment present in the surroundings of Turin one cen- In the last decades of the 20th century, hoverflies (Dip- tury ago (Sommaggio, 2007). tera Syrphidae) received increasing interest, not just tra- In the present paper, the author presents a revision of ditional aspects such as taxonomy or aphid control in the Syrphidae held in the “Guido Grandi Collection” agriculture, but also new aspects less discussed before. (GGC) of the Department of Agroenviromental Sciences One of the most important topics related to the in- and Technologies (DiSTA), Alma Mater Studiorum Uni- creased interest in hoverfly research is the use of Syr- versity of Bologna. The aim of the paper is to improve phidae as bioindicators. In 1986 Speight considered the knowledge about the Italian syrphid fauna, with particu- hoverflies as one of the more promising taxa to be used lar reference to the Emilia Romagna region (Northern in environmental evaluation, together with Carabidae Italy), well represented in this collection. In addition, re- (Coleoptera) and Symphyta (Hymenoptera). The devel- vision of these Syrphidae contributes to improve our opment of the database called Syrph the Net represents knowledge of the fauna of this area, providing a detailed one of the first attempts to apply a standardised knowl- checklist necessary for the proper use of Syrphidae as edge base to use insects as bioindicators in terrestrial bioindicators, including Syrph the Net applications. habitats (Speight and Castella, 2001; Speight, 2008a). Syrph the Net is an expert system in which most of the European Syrphidae species are listed with their pre- Materials and methods ferred habitats. The use of Syrphidae as bioindicators needs good knowledge about the biology of the species, The GGC was previously held in the “Guido Grandi” their habitat requirements and detailed information Institute of Entomology, Bologna University; it has about species distribution on a local scale. Sommaggio been transferred recently to the DiSTA, and named for and Burgio (2004) stressed how one of the main limits the entomologist Guido Grandi. The Syrphidae of the in the use of Syrphidae in Italy is due to the scarcity of GGC is composed of 27 small entomological boxes (18 knowledge about their distribution, particularly evident × 26 cm). All boxes can easily be identified by their in regions of central and southern Italy, including Sicily code number: in the case of the Syrphidae, these num- and Sardinia. Despite this limit Syrph the Net has been bers run from 99 to 125. The GGC collection can be di- used with good results in the Po Valley (Sommaggio et vided in three sections: al., 2005; Burgio and Sommaggio, 2007). - Bezzi donation: this important Dipterologist ex- Several efforts have been made in order to improve change a lot of material with several Italian and for- knowledge of Italian Syrphidae. Recently, active moni- eign museums and probably sent samples to Bologna toring provides a lot of information about distribution University; (e.g. Burgio and Daccordi, 1997; Burgio et al., 2000; - specimens from other collections: several authors Birtele et al., 2002; 2003; Sommaggio and Corazza, working in Agriculture Faculty of Bologna Univer- 2007; Burgio and Sommaggio, 2007). The revision of sity collected insects during monitoring or collecting old collections not only improves knowledge about spe- trips both in the surroundings of Bologna and in cies distributions, but contributes to data on past faunas. other countries (e.g. Algeria). After identification, This was for example the case of the 19th-century Bel- the Syrphidae were preserved in the collection of lardi collection that recorded 8 species new to the Italian GGC; - Giovanni Burgio donation: recently this researcher greater intraspecific variability detected. On the other gave his personal Syrphid collection to the GGC. hand few records of B. plena are available. Collin The GGC is arranged without any division in subfami- (1939) recorded it from Bohemia (a single male), while lies; the genera are ordered following the traditional Brãdescu (1991) included it in the key of the Syrphidae classification of Syrphidae common during the first part of Romania as a species present in the Bucharest region of the 20th century (e.g. Bezzi and Stein, 1907; Sack, and Vujić (1991) recorded one male from Serbia. In 1928-32). All specimens were revised to conform to re- fact, B. plena seems to be restricted to the Balkan penin- cent taxonomic changes, but the arrangement of the sula, but doubts exist about whether these specimens species was preserved to maintain the original structure should be considered as belonging to B. pilosa or to a of the collection. separate species. The main difference between the two In the present paper the species are listed in alphabeti- species seems to be the larger sensory pit on the third cal order (table 1). After the name of the species, the antennal segment in B. plena males. Almost no differ- following is indicated: ences can be detected between the male genitalia. The - the number of specimens present in the collection; male in GGC came from the Balkans and its sensory pit - the localities divided in Bezzi Donation; Other Col- is particularly developed; for this reason it has been lection; Burgio Donation. considered as belonging to B. plena. Species with a peculiar distribution or which are rare or Callicera macquarti Rondani: this species is strongly new for the Italian fauna (Belcari et al., 1995; Daccordi associated with very well-preserved forest with senes- and Sommaggio, 2002), are discussed after the list of cent trees where the larvae can develop (Speight, species. A detailed list of all specimens together with 2008b). Currently known only from central and south- additional information (collection date; collector; origi- ern Italy, the present record is the first for northern Italy. nal identification, etc.) will be find in supplemental ma- Cheilosia griseiventris Loew: this species is similar to terials at www.bulletinofinsectology.org/Suppl/vol63-2010-099-114sommaggio.xls Cheilosia latifrons (Zetterstedt) and some authors sug- gested that they may be the same species (Speight, 2008b). In his key Van Veen (2004) included C. Results and discussion griseiventris as separate from C. latifrons, and several features seem to indicate that they are distinct (Claus- The GGC consist of 3439 specimens belonging to 243 sen, per. com.). Currently recorded only from southern species. More than half of the specimens belong to Bur- Italy and Sicily, the present record is the first one for gio’s donation, comprising 1968 specimens of 170 spe- northern Italy. cies. Most of these specimens have been recorded al- Cheilosia semifasciata Becker: this species is quite ready in previous publications (Burgio et al., 1997; common in central and northern Europe where it can Burgio and Daccordi, 1997; Burgio et al., 2000; Burgio also be found in urban areas. In Italy it is much rarer, and Sommaggio, 2007). The Bezzi donation consists of and its presence seems to be restricted to mountain ar- 394 specimens and here Bezzi clearly made a selection eas. The present record is the first for central Italy. because 137 species are present with just a few speci- Meligramma cingulata (Egger) is a rare species, asso- mens of each species. From the occasional catches of ciated with Abies/Picea forest. Previously recorded in the other collection, 1077 specimens belong to 114 spe- Italy at Castiglione dei Pepoli (Burgio and Daccordi, cies. 1997) and Campigna (Burgio et al., 2000), the present Some species are particularly interesting and/or rare. record from Florence is an additional one. In Spain, Except where specified, all information about species Marcos-Garcia (2006) included it in the list of threat- biology and distribution was obtained from Speight ened species. (2008b). Merodon distinctus (Palma) has currently been re- Brachyopa insensilis Collin and Brachyopa grunde- corded only for the Mediterranean basin; in the check waldensis Kassebeer are a couple of species which can list of Italian species it has been recorded only from Sic- be separated only by the male genitalia (Doczkal and ily (Belcari et al., 1995; Daccordi and Sommaggio, Dziock, 2004). Unfortunately only one female is present 2002) while Dirickx (1994) recorded it only from south- in the GGC collection, and its real identity cannot be ern Italy. The present records suggest that this species established. Like all other Brachyopa species, B.